Quebecor to transfer rights to Quebec City women's event to Tennis Canada

CP

QUEBEC — Media company Quebecor will transfer rights to the National Bank Cup women's tournament back to Tennis Canada, the two sides announced Tuesday.

The transfer is expected to be ratified at a WTA board meeting at Wimbledon in the summer.

National Bank will remain the title sponsor for the 24th edition of the US$226,750 indoor event Sept. 10-18 at Laval University.

Tennis Canada vice-president Eugene Lapierre said Canada's top women's player, Eugenie Bouchard of Westmount, Que., has confirmed she will play the tournament for the first time since she reached the semifinals in 2013.

Quebecor acquired the rights when it purchased the Quebec Remparts junior hockey team from businessman Jacques Tanguay in 2014.

"It was important for Quebecor to ensure that this important women's international tournament be given to experts who are able to offer the best possible product to the fans," Quebecor executive Myrainne Collin said in a release.

"The National Bank Cup is the third largest tournament in Canada, which makes the event a crucial pillar for the growth of our sport," said Tennis Canada president and CEO Kelly Murumets. "The tournament has an excellent reputation on the WTA circuit and has been voted by the players 'best tournament of its category' on eight different occasions."

Pierre-Luc Tessier will replace Jack Herisset as tournament director.

The tournament was founded by Tennis Canada in 1993. Past winners include Jennifer Capriati in 1999, Maria Sharapova in 2003 and Lindsay Davenport in 2007.